New York’s Floating Bar

New York City is renowned for its restaurants, bars and nightlife. Each distinct neighborhood across the boroughs tooting different trends, farm to table lovers, cocktail aficionados, winos, 19th century pubs. You name it, we got it.

But did you know that one of the coolest bars in the city is actually floating in our waterways?

The “Honorable William Wall” or Willy Wall is the floating clubhouse of Manhattan Sailing Club, all part of the Manhattan Yacht Club — it’s a floating bar anchored in New York Harbor just north of Ellis Island from May through October.

I stood sipping a decently priced sauvignon blanc looking out into a red-purple sky as the sunset rolls in over the glistening skyscrapers of Wall Street, the infamous structures of the city and piers of Red Hook in the distance, and towering over me, Lady Liberty herself. The water, a cool crystal color reflecting New York. Sailboats pass by. Not bad for after work on a Tuesday.

How to get there:

Transportation is provided to and from the clubhouse at Pier 25. $20 fee per person and free for members. Tickets available through Zerve.

Hours of operation:

Open 6 days a week from May 15 until October 12. Check the website for schedule changes and private event notices.